Last year we got the Scrubba Wash Bag from Fred’s brother for Christmas.

It’s basically just a dry bag with bumps on one side and an air vent, but on the Scrubba website it brags that it will produce a “machine quality wash.”  We have been wanting to try it out, but until last week we’d never been on a boat long enough that we remembered to use it.

So here’s how it works:

1. Fill the bag with clothes, enough water to get them all wet, and a tiny bit of detergent. (We used fresh water for the washing, but I suppose it could be salt water.)

2. Then you let out all the air and just swoosh it around. This can be harder than it looks, as a lot of the clothes tend to get knotted up.

3. The bag then calls for two rinses. I think the first rinse could be salt water, and then the second rinse with fresh water, but we used fresh for both.

The Verdict

Pros

• It did indeed wash the clothes, and several big stains came out.
• It packs up into a tiny space. This would be a big deal if you were backpacking.
• It can doubles as a dry bag, and you may also be able to use it in place of a bucket for some things.

Cons

• If you’re only using fresh water, I feel like it uses just as much or more water than a sink or a bucket.
• Even after the second rinse, the clothes were still a little soapy.
• The actual washing is a bit awkward and difficult. It would be easier to stir and rub the clothes in a bucket than it was to try and rub them around in the bag.
• It’s more likely to get a hole than a bucket.

In closing, If you are backpacking or camping I think this is a major advantage. It could roll up in your pack and serve several purposes. If you’re on a boat and you already have a bucket or sink with a good plug, save your cash.